An introduction to farm management for developing agriculture

Abstract

Early in 1970 South Pacific Commission acceded to a request by the Fiji Government to finance the services of two consultants to provide a short introductory course in farm management to Fiji Department of Agriculture extension staff. A course of two weeks' duration was designed by Dr W. O. McCarthy and Mr P. L. Nuthall, then of the University of Queensland, and given in May 1970 to senior extension staff. The objective was to explain the farm management or whole farm approach to farm planning and to illustrate its application to commercial farming in Fiji by field exercises and discussion. A further training programme was requested and undertaken in May 1971 by Dr McCarthy, now of Lincoln College, and Mr B.J.P. Ryde, also of the College. A week was spent reviewing and expanding concepts with staff who had attended the 1970 course. Another week was spent giving a course to junior (front-line) extension staff. About half the participants had agriculture diploma qualifications. This book is based on the second course and is oriented towards the Diploma trained or equivalently experienced extension worker. Its objective is to provide an introduction to farm management at an appropriate level and relevant to commercial and emerging-commercial farms in Fiji. Meantime it is a first draft to be used by Fiji Department of Agriculture extension staff. On the basis of comments received it will be revised and possibly expanded to meet the needs of agricultural extension staff for the whole South Pacific Commission region.